By Mary Klaus

A familiar grocery store which carries everything from Dr. Brown’s cream soda to Yehuda gefilte fish is about to turn its Kosher section to “a store within a store.”

Giant at 2300 Linglestown Road, a major supplier of kosher food for area Jews, is planning a major renovation that will include a larger, better organized kosher section. The renovations are expected to be finished by mid-fall.

 “This remodel is really focused on the busy families who shop at our Linglestown Road store by offering them a refreshed design, increased product variety, and an overall simplified shopping experience,” said Todd Kinter, Giant store manager. “We look forward to showing off our updated look to our customers and community this fall.”

The renovation will feature a larger selection of kosher items in a new kosher section. The kosher groceries, dairy products, meat, frozen and deli items will be grouped together in a centralized location for simplified shopping.

The Giant Food Stores corporate team, including A&L Foods, its kosher distributor, has had many hours of discussions about kosher food item selection and placement as part of the renovations.

Giant Foods has long been known for its extensive selection of kosher food. All breads in the Linglestown Road location’s bakery section are certified as kosher except for the garlic bread, which contains dairy garlic spread. Other bakery items, including cakes, cookies, doughnuts, and more, are kosher unless marked otherwise.

Giant also carries a large selection of kosher dairy items and fresh and frozen poultry and other meat.

The remodel goes beyond the new central kosher section. It also will include new décor throughout the store, an expanded farm-fresh produce department, introduction of a designated plant-based product area, new meat and seafood departments, and an expanded specialty cheese shop.

A tap wall will be added to the current Beer & Wine Eatery allowing customers to select from their favorite local and national craft beers. Updates to the pharmacy include the addition of a consultation room to administer vaccines and speak with the pharmacist in a more private setting. Other departments throughout the store, including health and beauty care, pet, baby, and seasonal, will also be updated.

For greater shopping convenience during the remodel, Giant officials encourage customers to try Giant Direct, an opportunity for customers to order groceries online at giantdirect.com for easy curbside pick-up or delivery.

The Linglestown Road Giant opened in 2009 and now has approximately 250 team members.

 Its remodeling is part of a $114 million investment in capital expenditures which Giant Company announced last year. The company plans to create a Giant Direct ecommerce fulfillment center, open two new stores, and remodel thirty-five existing Pennsylvania stores through the end of this year.

Giant, founded in 1923 in Carlisle by David Javitch, has more than 35,000 employees and 190 stores, 132 pharmacies, 107 fuel stations, and more than 150 online pickup hubs and grocery delivery services.